Letter: Teen's lengthy sentence is cruel and inhuman

To the editor

Published 3:11 pm, Saturday, August 29, 2015

I have always felt good about voting for David Soares as district attorney in Albany County. I have to question that decision now. That Soares could justify a nine-year sentence for any 16- year-old is beyond my comprehension. Marquis Dixon was sentenced to adult prison for nine years for stealing sneakers.

One can only shudder over what has happened to that child in the two years since his sentencing. As an educator of 39 years, I find it difficult to believe that any thoughtful adult could justify such a savage sentence. The DA says there was a gun involved. That seems to be in question. Regardless, this sentence is cruel and inhuman. We expect more of Soares. One begins to wonder how many children we have incarcerated as adults and left to their fate.